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Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday 40 - Pink-eared Duck.

My recent trip to Perth gave me a chance (after work, just in case the boss is reading!) to get some images of Pink-eared Duck. This small duck - about 40 cm long - is a delight to watch, but I had never managed to get any decent images before.

There were a number of these ducks loafing about on the shore and sitting on half submerged logs. They were not so used to people that they would stay put, but they were not so nervous as to swim off. A cautious approach allowed me to get close enough to get plenty of shots. As my colleagues were sitting on the grass, I had to cut the trip short.

Later on when they saw the pictures, one of them said "It looks like it as a pink highlighter pen mark on its head" - which is the kind of thing that they should put in guide books!

This duck goes by the scientific name of Malacorhynchus membranaceus - which "soft beak, membrane" - which is a decent description of the beak - large and broader at the tip, which is soft. See, there is meaning in all this latin and greek sounding stuff!

The females are a little smaller than the males - but the difference is not great enough for you to tell the difference in the field - I assume you need a duck in the hand to do that!

Now its your turn. Use the link below to join in WBW. Remember - visit, comment and invite - the more the merrier.

Now a plea - PLEASE link to your actual post, not just your general blog address - it does save me a bit of time and PLEASE consider getting rid of word verification if you have it turned on, seeing half blurred images and microscopic numbers drains me of the will to live!

Aptly named, although the pink is a bit forward of the ears, I assume. At least the pink is there, unlike our Ring-necked Ducks and Red-bellied Woodpeckers which require a close look with a magnifying glass to verify the presence of their namesake markings!

Awesomely handsome (or pretty which ever the case may be :) ducks. Yet another duck unknown to me. There is a different duck in the background of the first picture ... what are they? You are so fun ... I am either learning a whole lot of new stuff from you or I am finding out how little I really know ... which ever, I am loving it! Great 40th post, Stewart.

Quite fetching with that little pink highlight. Wonder if the male gets ribbed about his eye makeup? :)I like the pattern of the feathers too. They make a nice reflection in the water.Lovely captures Stewart!

Strange that the female is so similar to the male, almost exactly the same. They are so pretty and I never would have seen one if you did not blog it...wish I could add them to my list! (I feel the same about word verification, drains the life out of my eyes!)

Oh, such a pun post. Great looking ducks they really are outstanding in the detail of their markings. I like the marker pen comment, it is so much easier to identify birds by one specific, outstanding feature.

Ducks with ears! LOve the pink on the side it is quite a bright pink easily noticeable on your photo. PS IT must be really spooky to see that you and your brother are so tuned in to the same things. I take it you are not twins.